Solar7: Nothing like the sun

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Corey Fucetola, graduate student in electrical engineering and computer science, gave a tour of Solar7, MIT's entry in this year's US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, to President Susan Hockfield, center, and her daughter Elizabeth Byrne on Aug. 31.

The annual competition, to be held Oct. 12-20 in Washington, challenges 20 college teams to compete in building and operating efficient solar-powered homes. The Decathlon entries, built on campuses around the country, must be disassembled, transported and re-built on the National Mall, where they will be judged.

MIT's snug 800 square foot passive solar home is under construction on a lot at the corner of Portland and Albany Streets in Cambridge.

The DOE provides each team $100,000 for the project, but a shortfall in money and labor persists. The team is raffling off a 2008 Toyota Camry to help raise funds, and members are eager for volunteers to work on construction. To help out, contact Arlis Reynolds at arlis@mit.edu. (Sarah H. Wright) Photo / Donna Coveney